Legal aid analysis

Does the region need two groups to represent low-income residents?

Published: Friday, February 14, 2014 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 13, 2014 at 8:02 p.m.

The recent departure of Gulfcoast Legal Services' top executive offers the Pinellas County-based organization fresh opportunities to question its strategies and service areas.

Specifically, is it in the public interest for Gulfcoast to operate in Manatee and Sarasota counties, where Legal Aid of Manasota provides a high level of services to people who cannot afford to hire lawyers for civil matters?

We asked that question last May, after the now-former director of Gulfcoast fired a popular attorney, Elizabeth Boyle, and abruptly dismissed volunteers in the Sarasota office. We pose that question again, now that Kathleen M. Mullin is no longer Gulfcoast's executive director.

As we wrote in May, the upheaval and uncertainty caused by the firing of Boyle and the dismissals of volunteers were troubling and, in Manatee and Sarasota, resulted in a loss of public confidence in Gulfcoast.

The concerns that resulted provided reasons for lawyers, judges and nonprofit organizations to examine the way legal aid is provided in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

It's fair to ask whether the two counties need two legal-aid organizations. What's more, does the existence of two separate groups result in the effective and efficient provision of services?

Funding has dropped

The answers are particularly important, since funding for legal aid has dropped substantially in recent years.

Legal Aid of Manasota can make a strong case for being the provider of services in our two counties. The nonprofit organization was created in 1991 by the Bar Associations in Manatee and Sarasota. It is the "official entity appointed by the chief judge" of the 12th Judicial Circuit -- which includes Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto -- to administer the provision of assistance.

Since its inception, Legal Aid of Manasota has served only residents of Sarasota and Manatee. All dollars raised and received have remained in the two counties. All of Manasota's board members live and work locally. The organization's services are monitored by a first-rate local advisory board, including judges.

Neither the questions about Gulfcoast nor the citation of Legal Aid of Manasota's advantages are intended to dismiss the good work that Gulfcoast has done over the years in Manatee and Sarasota.

The Herald-Tribune Editorial Board has long supported the underlying concept of legal-aid organizations. Gulfcoast and Manasota have provided much-needed representation to low-income residents in civil cases involving family law, financial problems, foreclosure, housing and medical care.

Potential for redundancy

Unfortunately, funding for legal aid diminished at the same time that demands rose dramatically. The Florida Bar Foundation's financial contributions dropped substantially due to the recession. Many national grants from government and advocacy groups have disappeared. Unlike 23 other states, Florida has not regularly made funding contributions -- despite the documented social and economic benefits of legal aid.

And this is telling: After last year's fiasco, the Sarasota County Commission terminated its contract with Gulfcoast and transferred the remaining funds to Legal Aid of Manasota. The Manatee County Commission almost did the same.

Legal-aid organizations are guided by loose agreements, but there is the potential for redundancy and competition for grants that generally come with strings attached. Especially in an era of diminished funding, providers should strive to be efficient in the communities they seek to serve; the needs of clients, not the organizations themselves, should come first.

As we wrote last May, changes in leadership and competition for scarce funds should prompt the legal community to consider whether services can be offered more efficiently. That consideration should start -- now -- with these questions: Do Manatee and Sarasota counties really need two legal-aid organizations? And, if not, isn't Legal Aid of Manasota best positioned -- based on its local roots and oversight -- to provide and administer those services?

<p>The recent departure of Gulfcoast Legal Services' top executive offers the Pinellas County-based organization fresh opportunities to question its strategies and service areas.</p><p>Specifically, is it in the public interest for Gulfcoast to operate in Manatee and Sarasota counties, where Legal Aid of Manasota provides a high level of services to people who cannot afford to hire lawyers for civil matters?</p><p>We asked that question last May, after the now-former director of Gulfcoast fired a popular attorney, Elizabeth Boyle, and abruptly dismissed volunteers in the Sarasota office. We pose that question again, now that Kathleen M. Mullin is no longer Gulfcoast's executive director.</p><p>As we wrote in May, the upheaval and uncertainty caused by the firing of Boyle and the dismissals of volunteers were troubling and, in Manatee and Sarasota, resulted in a loss of public confidence in Gulfcoast.</p><p>The concerns that resulted provided reasons for lawyers, judges and nonprofit organizations to examine the way legal aid is provided in Manatee and Sarasota counties.</p><p>It's fair to ask whether the two counties need two legal-aid organizations. What's more, does the existence of two separate groups result in the effective and efficient provision of services?</p><p>Funding has dropped</p><p>The answers are particularly important, since funding for legal aid has dropped substantially in recent years.</p><p>Legal Aid of Manasota can make a strong case for being the provider of services in our two counties. The nonprofit organization was created in 1991 by the Bar Associations in Manatee and Sarasota. It is the "official entity appointed by the chief judge" of the 12th Judicial Circuit -- which includes Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto -- to administer the provision of assistance.</p><p>Since its inception, Legal Aid of Manasota has served only residents of Sarasota and Manatee. All dollars raised and received have remained in the two counties. All of Manasota's board members live and work locally. The organization's services are monitored by a first-rate local advisory board, including judges.</p><p>Neither the questions about Gulfcoast nor the citation of Legal Aid of Manasota's advantages are intended to dismiss the good work that Gulfcoast has done over the years in Manatee and Sarasota.</p><p>The Herald-Tribune Editorial Board has long supported the underlying concept of legal-aid organizations. Gulfcoast and Manasota have provided much-needed representation to low-income residents in civil cases involving family law, financial problems, foreclosure, housing and medical care.</p><p>Potential for redundancy</p><p>Unfortunately, funding for legal aid diminished at the same time that demands rose dramatically. The Florida Bar Foundation's financial contributions dropped substantially due to the recession. Many national grants from government and advocacy groups have disappeared. Unlike 23 other states, Florida has not regularly made funding contributions -- despite the documented social and economic benefits of legal aid.</p><p>And this is telling: After last year's fiasco, the Sarasota County Commission terminated its contract with Gulfcoast and transferred the remaining funds to Legal Aid of Manasota. The Manatee County Commission almost did the same.</p><p>Legal-aid organizations are guided by loose agreements, but there is the potential for redundancy and competition for grants that generally come with strings attached. Especially in an era of diminished funding, providers should strive to be efficient in the communities they seek to serve; the needs of clients, not the organizations themselves, should come first.</p><p>As we wrote last May, changes in leadership and competition for scarce funds should prompt the legal community to consider whether services can be offered more efficiently. That consideration should start -- now -- with these questions: Do Manatee and Sarasota counties really need two legal-aid organizations? And, if not, isn't Legal Aid of Manasota best positioned -- based on its local roots and oversight -- to provide and administer those services?</p>